India: Protection

Because I am a girl…I have the right to a childhood, not a job. Rolling beedis is hard work for anyone, particularly a young girl like Shanu.Read her story.

Combating Child Labor in Andhra Pradesh

As many as 60 million children are engaged in labor in India — that’s more child laborers than in any other country in the world. Certain types of labor, such as working in factories and rolling beedis (cigarettes), can be hazardous to a child’s health, especially when they are exposed at a young age. And no matter what type of labor a child is engaged in, it robs her of her childhood and cripples her opportunities for the future.

We are working in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the six mandals (villages) with the highest prevalence of child labor to ensure that families are supported to send their children to school and that they do not have to depend on the labor of their sons and daughters to survive. Child labor is a complicated issue that has its roots in poverty and weak educational and societal infrastructure. This requires a comprehensive approach at the family, community, and state levels to prevent the practice of child labor and provide alternative options for impoverished families. We’re connecting families with government employment programs, strengthening relationships with labor unions, and supporting girls to pursue an education through traditional school or vocational training.

With your support, we are ensuring that families are aware of the dangers of child labor and have the economic, social, and legal resources to protect their daughters from labor and keep them in school.